Larnaca marina boat owners irate over ongoing high fees

Pleasure boat owners in the Larnaca marina are up in arms on Tuesday over having to continue paying high berthing fees, despite the state take-over of the facility.

Despite the ministry of transport having taken over the marina’s management and having promised improved services, berthing fees remain at an unacceptably high level set by former disgraced contractor Kition Ocean Holdings, they say.

Boat owners are preparing to take measures at the end of August if the fees are not lowered, president of the commercial boat owners association, Chris Stekas told Philenews.

Last year, boat owners effected a blockade of the marina to draw attention to their cause.

The association in its statement questioned if they are to continue to “pay for the errors, omissions and mismanagement of the state,” and, now, the ministry.

The state has and is collecting millions of euros from the berthing fees which were increased by more than 50 per cent by Kition, under the pretext that projects would be carried out and services would be upgraded, the boat owners said.

“The ministry of transport ignores our appeals and illegally attempts to implement the same unacceptable practices […] as Kition,” they added.

Larnaca marina has by far the most expensive state berthing fees in Cyprus, the boat owners claim.

The association added it was in contact with its legal advisors over dubious tactics engaged in by the ministry, intended to pressure them to accept the fees without terms.

Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeades, meanwhile, has stated that the fees will be adjusted but the process requires some time and that existing legislation must be followed.

The fees are determined by a committee (outside the ministry) which is yet to be updated about revised projects to be carried out, the minister said.

Vafeades is set for meeting with Mayor of Larnaca Andreas Vyras on August 19, to discuss plans for the execution of three projects costed at a total €25-30 million (plus VAT) to be executed over the next three years with state funding.

Priority will be given to the maintenance and upgrading of the existing marina, projected to be finished by September 2026; installation of a yacht club by December 2027, and creation of a green leisure space by September 2027.

At a later stage, pending interest from local and foreign investors, expansion of the marina will be evaluated.